-1- Productinfo SIM OFD_8e

Scientific Instruments Manufacturer GmbH D-46149 Oberhausen • Tel. 0208/941078-0 • www.sim-gmbh.de

SIM

Olfactory Detector (OFD)

-2- Productinfo SIM OFD_8e

Scientific Instruments Manufacturer GmbH D-46149 Oberhausen • Tel. 0208/941078-0 • www.sim-gmbh.de

GC-OLFACTOMETRY (GC-O)

GC-O is a separation technique combining the high resolution of capillary GC with the highly sensitive

human nose as detector. This is one of the most effective analysis methods for flavoring and

fragrance industries because the human nose is often more sensitive than any physical detector.

Applications: • flavors and odorants in cosmetics and food

• smelly components in environmental analysis and

waste control

• off-odor detection in chemical and plastics industries

SIM Olfactory Detector (OFD)

After GC separation, the OFD is used to record odor assoziation of an eluted substance and its

intensity in function of time. A capillary transfers the eluate of the GC column from the oven to the

“sniffing port”. This is a glass cone at the outside end of the capillary, where the tester can “sniff” the

olfactory impressions of the compounds.

Developing the SIM OFD, a high value was set on the following prerequisite conditions that allow

optimal and interference-free interpretation of the olfactory

impressions:

Absolutely olfactory neutrality of all used components so that

the olfactory perception of the eluted substances is not disturbed:

The transfer capillary is inside a heatable stainless steel tube.

The white insulating hose at the outside of the transfer line is

odorless even at high temperatures (no polymers!).

Heatable transfer line without „cold spots“ for the correct

sniffing of high boiling compounds:

A heating element all along the stainless steel enables heating

up to 300 °C. The heating temperature is controlled by

ChemStation or another suitable software.

Comfortable working position is enabled by the sniffing port

which is vertically adjustable to individual requirements: Due to

the ergonomic sitting position, the tester can fully focus on the

sensory perception.

-3- Productinfo SIM OFD_8e

Scientific Instruments Manufacturer GmbH D-46149 Oberhausen • Tel. 0208/941078-0 • www.sim-gmbh.de

Humidified air (see water bottle sitting above the sniffing port holder) is mixed into the glass

cone to prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out. For this also an odorless tube is used.

Simultaneous detection with other GC detectors (e. g. FID, MSD, ECD)

At the end of the column, flow is split into the OFD part and the part for

a conventional detector. Either a standard parallel spitter or a

microfluidic splitter is used for this technique. Simultaneous detection

enables the definite correlation of the odor impressions to the recorded

chromatogram.

The Microfluidic-Splitters (with/without make-up gas, Deans-switch)

use Agilent Capillary Flow Technology that gives you the ability to

precisely divert the gas flow pneumatically. Also all gas flows can be

adjusted comfortably by means of the instrument software.

Data Acquisition – SIM Olfactometry Software:

SIM Olfactometry Software saves

odor impressions together with the

intensities (olfactrogram) as text file

(see fig. left)

completely integrated for Agilent ChemStation and MS ChemStation as the text file is saved in

the data folder of the GC run

using other chromatography data systems (e. g. EZ Chrom), free selection of memory location

and file names enables clear allocation of the data

Microfluidic Splitter mit EPC

-4- Productinfo SIM OFD_8e

Scientific Instruments Manufacturer GmbH D-46149 Oberhausen • Tel. 0208/941078-0 • www.sim-gmbh.de

Odor impressions can be recorded with different input devices:

• Pen tablet with character recognition

• PC keyboard

• Voice recording with a headset microphone

Numbers are used to describe the intensity level.

Different ways for rapid recording of odor impressions – according to the testers‘ preferences –

that give lots of flexibility and allow to concentrate on the sniffing not on writing down the

impressions:

• Free definition of shortcuts for input via keyboard or pen tablet

• Menu bar with predefined odors and intensities

input via mouse or pen tablet, storage of individual odor classes (for different samples or

different testers):

Integration of the OFD into Agilent ChemStation / MSChemStation

Temperature of the transfer line as well as all gas flows can be controlled by ChemStation/

MSChemStation (saved in the methods)

Olfactogram is saved together with the related chromatography data of the GC run in the same

folder

Article Order No.

Olfactory Detector for Agilent 7890 GC* OD 1000 78 00

Parallel Detection-Kit (manual) OD 1000 78 00 OPT020

Paralel Detection Kit (microfluidic splitter, electr. controlled) OD 1000 78 00 OPT021

Paralel-Detektion Kit (Deans Switch, electr. controlled) OD 1000 78 00 OPT022

SIM Olfactometry Software incl. pen tablet OD 1000 78 00 OPT030

*OFD for other gas chromatography systems available on request